SAINT LEO, Fla. — The Florida Southern College volleyball team (7-2, 1-0 SSC) swept Saint Leo University (1-6, 0-2 SSC) in straight sets at the Marion Bowman Activities Center on Friday evening, marking their first 3-0 sweep of the season. The Moccasins posted scores of 25-21, 25-20, 25-13, with their serving prowess highlighted by 10 aces contributing to the decisive victory. This win also kept Florida Southern perfect against unranked opponents this season, boasting a 7-0 record.
FSC opened the first set with a balanced attack, quickly overcoming an early deficit. A series of crucial blocks by freshmen
Whitney Mall and
Layla Visser provided key defensive stops, and Mall added vital kills to keep the team in contention. Freshman
Brielle Mullen facilitated effectively, setting up multiple scoring opportunities that were capitalized on by freshman
Chloe Moreland.
Despite trailing midway through the set, the Moccasins mounted a comeback, spurred by sophomore
Bali Coles' service aces and Mall's consistent scoring. Junior
Elizabeth McDonald and senior
Morgan Word contributed defensively with critical blocks, which helped the team take the lead. Florida Southern closed out the set strongly, benefiting from SLU's service errors to secure a 25-21 victory.
The Mocs opened the second set with a strong offensive push, quickly establishing a 3-0 lead thanks to kills from Coles, McDonald, and Mall. The visitors maintained their advantage, extending the score to 6-1 with back-to-back service aces by sophomore
Nako Sasaki, who proved pivotal in maintaining momentum early in the set.
Despite a mid-set rally by the Lions, which saw them close the gap to 13-13, the Moccasins responded with decisive plays. Word contributed significantly, delivering two critical kills to shift the momentum back in favor of FSC. The visiting team continued to capitalize on Saint Leo's errors and extended their lead. The set concluded with the Moccasins firmly in control, as Word's kill sealed a 25-20 victory, giving them a solid lead in the match.
FSC opened the third set with a decisive run, quickly pulling ahead as Mall and McDonald each recorded kills to establish early momentum. A series of attack errors by SLU allowed the Mocs to extend their lead to 6-2, with Word and Moreland capitalizing on the offensive opportunities.
Junior
Tori Borton's contributions were significant, setting up multiple kills that increased the gap to 12-3. The momentum continued as Florida Southern's defense held strong, with McDonald and Word combining for a block that further stifled the Lions' advances.
Despite a brief response from SLU narrowing the score to 14-6, the Mocs maintained their composure and offensive pressure. McDonald delivered multiple kills to keep the margin wide, and despite a late surge by Saint Leo, the Moccasins comfortably closed the set 25-13, securing the period.
McDonald led the FSC offense with 12 kills and added six digs and three blocks, contributing 13.5 points. Mall supported the attack with 10 kills on 25 attempts and recorded two blocks, finishing with 11 points. Coles excelled in defense, recording 22 digs and serving four aces, contributing to her 7 points. Sasaki also showcased strong defensive skills by collecting 22 digs and adding two service aces. Mullen finished with a double-double including a team-best 19 assists to go along with 11 digs.
Jala Drayton led SLU with eight kills and a .174 hitting percentage, contributing significantly with three total blocks and totaling 10.0 points over three games. Tajma Muharemovic was a key playmaker, recording 16 assists and adding 13 digs, while also contributing two blocks. Rose Kailahi added depth with three kills on a .154 attack percentage and was effective on serve with two aces, accumulating 5.5 points.
Looking ahead, Florida Southern College will face third-ranked University of Tampa at home in the George W. Jenkins Field House in Lakeland, Fla. The match is set for tomorrow, Sept. 27, with first serve at 4 p.m.
